Thursday, April 28, 2011

We LOVE bubbles...I love them, the kids REALLY love them but honestly, we didn't have such a great bubble system. Nothing we tried worked super well. We went thru lots of different types of bottles with lots of different kind of wands--that were mostly just too small. Also, things could get very, very messy.

Another issue were the containers. They were either too huge and couldn't be held easily or too little and didn't hold enough bubble solution--but the most likely situation: they got knocked over and the bubbles just spilled everywhere. BUT, because we love bubbles so much, we just tried to deal...

I picked the dispenser container up at Target for $5. It works great & I found multiple bubble recipes on-line--I'll share the one that works well for us below...Lastly, thePièce de résistance, I found GIANT BUBBLE WANDS at Target...they were $2 each and I have to say, they are AMAZING. Our bubble situation has dramatically improved for the better because of these little guys!! The kids can hold the containers easily; they can fill up--pretty much--on their own; the kids are able to blow really big bubbles non-stop; and *bonus* are not completely disgusting when they are done...wow! Its like a completely different experience...

I love a good system!!

--

My Bubble Recipe

4 cups water

1 cup Dawn Liquid Dish Detergent

1/2 cup Glycerin

Mix all together and get to it...You can order Glycerin online or buy it at drug stores. It not exactly dirt cheap and I've seen recipes, on-line, that substitute corn syrup for the glycerin, but I don't know...

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Greg & the kids had their Spring Break last week and they worked hard to get our vegetable garden plot ready for planting. We had some spare bricks from the enclosed front porch (that's going down!) and Greg smartly reused them to create some lovely walkways within the garden space. Our seedlings are coming along nicely...too young to transplant now, but they'll be ready soon. Here are some shots from our major push Saturday to get plants & seeds into the ground.

The seedings we started at the end of March.

Getting ready for the herb planting...

Magda wanted strawberries...they will probably take over everything.

We are going with the hyper-organized technique of Square Foot Gardening

by Mel Bartholomew.

Greg & Luca planting seeds.

Our homemade compost...It is so awesome--really nicely broken down and full of worms.

Friday, April 22, 2011

However you plan to celebrate, I hope your weekend is filled with all sorts of loveliness, wonderful food and good time spent with family. We are looking forward to a neighborhood Easter egg hunt and a big family dinner.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

I've always wanted to use natural ingredients to dye eggs: like beets, tumeric & tea...but I just couldn't get around to making it happen this year, so I went with good old Paas. Not exactly natural but nice tones and I decided to turn an egg dying session into a still life photo shoot. Natural light is just so gorgeous to me and I have rediscovered my trusty tripod that has languished in dusty corners for far too long. It has become my invaluable sidekick since I started this blog--I really cannot--now-live without it!

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Easter preparations continue this week with a project that I have always wanted to try but have been a little intimidated by; but since it falls squarely into the realm of a good technique for making cute little animals--I was left with no choice...I had to try--

NEEDLE FELTING!

Do you know what this is? Its a dry-felting technique that takes wool roving and using special barbed felting needles that you use--you jab and bond fibers together. The effect is an almost-sculpting of fibers to three dimensional shapes. Basically you are poking and jabbing with the needles long un-spun wool (trying to avoid your fingers) and shapes take form...its very cool and fairly simple.

And although my first attempt is far from perfect, I think this little duckling (or is it a chick??) passes muster and will go into my daughter's easter basket. I am hoping to make a bunny for my son, but we'll see how that goes--bunnies have ears and ears seems tricky! Since, really, truly, I have no idea what I am doing...this post won't be a tutorial, but its more like...HEY! I tried it and its fun!! You should too, but please learn from the experts...

I got the sweet chick idea and instructions from Martha Stewart--of course, where else?

About Me

So the kids can see what we did when they were little...that not everything has to be bought from a store--somethings are better made by hand or at home. The understanding and appreciation for the love and time that goes into making things by hand is one of the greatest gifts I can give them...Here is a collection of those efforts.